Stuck in Traffic

Hello from Lehi, Utah!  I was hoping to write a quick update once we were settled into our temporary condo, but we got stuck and that isn't happening yet.  I thought I should get on anyway and let you all know what is going on with us (thanks to my cousin, Julie for letting me camp on her computer for a bit!).  I won't bore you with too much back story... this is where we are at today:) 

As per our typical daily routine now, we woke up at the Slater home in Kaysville, UT at 5:00 am.  Everyone showered, ate, dressed, gathered, mumbled a bit, and then got in the car and headed South at 5:51.  It was snowing and the car was out of gas, even though I filled it two days ago. We stopped at the exit my dad had predetermined would be the quickest for refueling and then drove through crazy road conditions to the Lehi High School Seminary building.  We arrived at 6:45, only 2 minutes late which I thought was amazing!  We dropped off Tanner, who is actually enjoying his new school and has even purchased a shirt with a hint of purple in it... and then drove to the Lehi Jr. High Seminary Building.  At 7:10 Matthew went in for his class.  He is not sure about the Junior High thing, but has made some good friends and gotten involved in track and seems to be settling in.  We continued to sit in the parking lot while Haddie did homework and everyone else snoozed or read a book.  Haddie's trying to feel good about her new school, and has met some new friends, but so far is having to rethink Geometry and isn't too sure about that!  At 8:10 Haddie left the car and we drove to Fox Hollow Elementary School.  Austin continued to read while Savannah and Normandy finished up a stray page of homework while I did their hair.  At 9:10 we sent them into the school.  The twins are in different classes, which they were not too excited about, but it seems like an awesome school and they have actually been happy with the new arrangement.  Austin has connected with a little guy in his class and enjoys playing basketball with the kids each recess.  I think he has secretly loved being back in the Elementary School for a minute:)

Derek started his new job on Monday and has really enjoyed meeting all the new people and is excited to work with the professional and experienced staff.  Everyone has been super nice and accommodating as he has tried to settle in.  His third chemo treatment was on Wednesday at the new cancer clinic.  It is a little different, but the things that really matter are mostly the same.  He is definitely seeing a pattern in the side effects that he experiences at the various stages of treatment... none of them very fun, but not horrible either.  He just keeps going and is grateful for all the research that has helped to make chemotherapy more comfortable than it used to be.

Now, as for "finding joy" in these travels...  we loved spending a few days in the home of my sister, Brittany, while we acclimatized Bailey to her new temporary home.  Thank you, Stratfords for providing a home to us, our dog, and our turtle... sorry about Maverick's broken wrist!!  It's been wonderful to visit with my siblings and their families, as well as my extended family.  Haddie and I went on a girl outing with cousins and my aunt hosted a lunch for available female family that was very fun... and yummy:)  I've enjoyed having time in the car to hear all about my kids impressions of their new environment and the people they are meeting.  I've been so grateful for the youth who have absolutely embraced my kids and made them feel welcome.  Derek and I have had some good times together shopping at Walmart for things we didn't bring with us in the move, and my mom and I had a fun day hanging out in parking lots, looking at model homes, and eating lunch together.  I was very grateful that my dad has car skills when something weird happened to my fuel line driving through SLC... yay for Dad!  We will be so happy to have a place to stay in Lehi... even though it is small and not very convenient to the schools... we will miss Gram and Grandpa, but we will spend a lot less time in the car!  We've laughed about the "ugly house" we are about to buy, but I am so happy with where it is in relation to my kids new friends and schools and am so grateful to know that we will soon land somewhere and able to get back into a more familiar groove.  I love that we are doing all these things together as a family, that we have income again, and that we have the assurance that we are where we are supposed to be at this time.  We continue to feel like our Heavenly Father is mindful of us, even when things don't go exactly as we had hoped, and that is such a comfort through it all.  Well, sorry for the epistle... but that is where we are today!